Italian Superturismo Championship
Encyclopedia
The Italian Superturismo Championship (Campionato Italiano Superturismo) was Italy
's national motorsport
series for touring cars
. It was established in 1987 and its drivers' title has been held by such notable drivers as Le Mans
winner Emanuele Pirro
and two-time Champ Car
champion Alex Zanardi
.
, Roberto Ravaglia
and Nicola Larini
before switching to Supertouring
regulations in 1993. That season was won by Ravaglia in a BMW 318i
. The next years would be dominated by Audi
and their 80 and A4 Quattro models as Emanuele Pirro
won in 1994 and 1995 and Rinaldo Capello
in 1996. Ex-F1 driver Emanuele Naspetti
took BMW's second title in 1997.
Alfa Romeo and Nordauto Engineering (the team that became N.Technology
) had run the Alfa Romeo 155
during the 1993-1997 years but wouldn't win the series until they introduced their 156
model in 1998. Fabrizio Giovanardi
won in that car both in 1998 and 1999.
to act as the European Supertouring Cup. Despite the international name a vast majority of the events were still held on Italian tracks and many of the drivers were of Italian origin. Giovanardi and Alfa Romeo would win in 2000 ahead of Peter Kox
and Gianni Morbidelli
. 2001 saw Giovanardi and Alfa come out on top yet again, this time with team-mate Nicola Larini on second place. 2001 was the last year with the Supertouring regulations. FIA and Eurosport
worked together with manufacturers Alfa Romeo and BMW to create the European Touring Car Championship
(ETCC).
won the 2003 Superproduzione season in an Alfa Romeo 147
. The championship became an all-147 series in 2004 won by Adriano De Micheli
. The season saw a very low number of entries with between four and six participants each weekend.
The ETCC became the World Touring Car Championship
(WTCC) in 2005. At the same time the Superturismo was truly revived with Super 2000 rules. Alessandro Zanardi would win the first season in a BMW 320i. In 2006 SEAT
joined the championship as a full works team with two Leóns
driven by Roberto Colciago
and Davide Roda
. Colciago won the title ahead of returning 1997 champion Emanuele Naspetti
in a BMW 320i.
In 2007 the championship changed its promoter to Peroni Promotion and was renamed ITCC (Italian Touring Car Competition). However, grids were small as several teams moved to the WTCC and the Superstars Series, and the series was merged with the Peroni-run Driver's Trophy midway through 2008.
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
's national motorsport
Auto racing
Auto racing is a motorsport involving the racing of cars for competition. It is one of the world's most watched televised sports.-The beginning of racing:...
series for touring cars
Touring car racing
Touring car racing is a general term for a number of distinct auto racing competitions in heavily-modified street cars. It is notably popular in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Germany, Japan, Scandinavia and Britain.-Characteristics of a touring car:...
. It was established in 1987 and its drivers' title has been held by such notable drivers as Le Mans
24 Hours of Le Mans
The 24 Hours of Le Mans is the world's oldest sports car race in endurance racing, held annually since near the town of Le Mans, France. Commonly known as the Grand Prix of Endurance and Efficiency, race teams have to balance speed against the cars' ability to run for 24 hours without sustaining...
winner Emanuele Pirro
Emanuele Pirro
Emanuele Pirro is an Italian former Formula One driver and five time Le Mans 24 hour winner.- Biography :...
and two-time Champ Car
Champ Car
Champ Car was the name for a class and specification of open wheel cars used in American Championship Car Racing for many decades, primarily for use in the Indianapolis 500 auto race...
champion Alex Zanardi
Alex Zanardi
Alessandro "Alex" Zanardi is an Italian racing driver and paracyclist.He won two CART championship titles in North America during the late 1990s. He also had a less successful career as a Formula One driver...
.
History
Established in 1987 the series saw champions like Johnny CecottoJohnny Cecotto
Alberto "Johnny" Cecotto is a former Grand Prix motorcycle road racer and Formula One driver...
, Roberto Ravaglia
Roberto Ravaglia
Roberto Ravaglia is a former auto racing driver, who currently runs ROAL Motorsport, who operate the BMW Team Italy-Spain operation in the World Touring Car Championship...
and Nicola Larini
Nicola Larini
Nicola Larini is a racing driver from Italy. He participated in 75 Formula One Grands Prix, debuting on September 6, 1987. He finished second in the tragic 1994 San Marino Grand Prix on a substitute outing for Ferrari, but only scored points once more in his career...
before switching to Supertouring
Supertouring
Super Touring, Class 2 or Class II was a motor racing Touring Cars category defined by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile for national touring car racing in 1993. It was based on the "2 litre Touring Car Formula" created for the British Touring Car Championship in 1990...
regulations in 1993. That season was won by Ravaglia in a BMW 318i
BMW E36
The BMW E36 is the third generation of the 3 Series compact executive cars produced by BMW. It was introduced in late 1990 for Europe and in late 1991 for US and Canada. It was the successor to the E30 3 Series and was eventually replaced by the E90 3 Series in 2005, though E36 coupes were still...
. The next years would be dominated by Audi
Audi
Audi AG is a German automobile manufacturer, from supermini to crossover SUVs in various body styles and price ranges that are marketed under the Audi brand , positioned as the premium brand within the Volkswagen Group....
and their 80 and A4 Quattro models as Emanuele Pirro
Emanuele Pirro
Emanuele Pirro is an Italian former Formula One driver and five time Le Mans 24 hour winner.- Biography :...
won in 1994 and 1995 and Rinaldo Capello
Rinaldo Capello
Rinaldo Capello , also known as Dindo Capello, is an Italian endurance racing driver.Dindo started his racing career in 1976, driving go-karts, but didn't move into single-seaters until 1983, starting in Formula Fiat Abarth. 1990 saw Dindo's first major championship victory, winning the Italian...
in 1996. Ex-F1 driver Emanuele Naspetti
Emanuele Naspetti
Emanuele Naspetti is a racing driver from Italy. He participated in six Formula One Grands Prix, debuting on August 30, 1992. He scored no championship points. He was considered for the Forti drive for the 1995 season....
took BMW's second title in 1997.
Alfa Romeo and Nordauto Engineering (the team that became N.Technology
N.Technology
N.Technology is an Italian auto racing team, founded by Mauro Sipsz and Monica Bregoli.- Team history :N.Technology were set up to manage the worldwide sporting activities of the Fiat Group...
) had run the Alfa Romeo 155
Alfa Romeo 155
The Alfa Romeo 155 is a compact executive car produced under the Italian Alfa Romeo marque between 1992 and 1998.-Design:Built to replace the 75 and based on the parent Fiat Group's Type Three platform, the 155 was somewhat larger in dimension than the 75 but evolved its styling from that of its...
during the 1993-1997 years but wouldn't win the series until they introduced their 156
Alfa Romeo 156
The Alfa Romeo 156 is a compact executive car introduced by Italian automaker Alfa Romeo at the 1997 Frankfurt Motor Show as the replacement for the Alfa Romeo 155...
model in 1998. Fabrizio Giovanardi
Fabrizio Giovanardi
Fabrizio Giovanardi is an Italian racing driver. During his career he has won eight touring car titles, including European and British crowns...
won in that car both in 1998 and 1999.
Euro STC
In 2000 the championship was promoted by the FIAFédération Internationale de l'Automobile
The Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile is a non-profit association established as the Association Internationale des Automobile Clubs Reconnus on 20 June 1904 to represent the interests of motoring organisations and motor car users...
to act as the European Supertouring Cup. Despite the international name a vast majority of the events were still held on Italian tracks and many of the drivers were of Italian origin. Giovanardi and Alfa Romeo would win in 2000 ahead of Peter Kox
Peter Kox
Peter Kox is a racecar driver from the NetherlandsKox began racing in karts in 1978, winning five titles until 1982. In 1983 he moved to automobiles, winning the Marlboro Formula Ford Challenge and was second and third in the Benelux and Dutch Formula Ford 2000 Championships, respectively, the...
and Gianni Morbidelli
Gianni Morbidelli
Gianni Morbidelli is a racing driver from Italy. He is the son of Giancarlo Morbidelli, the founder of Morbidelli motorcycle company which had success in Grand Prix motorcycle racing. Morbidelli participated in 70 Formula One Grands Prix, debuting on March 11, 1990. He achieved one podium, and...
. 2001 saw Giovanardi and Alfa come out on top yet again, this time with team-mate Nicola Larini on second place. 2001 was the last year with the Supertouring regulations. FIA and Eurosport
Eurosport
Eurosport is a pan-European television sport network operated by French broadcaster TF1 Group. The network of channels are available in 59 countries, in 20 different languages providing viewers with European and international sporting events...
worked together with manufacturers Alfa Romeo and BMW to create the European Touring Car Championship
European Touring Car Championship
The European Touring Car Championship was an international touring car racing series organised by the FIA. It had two incarnations, the first one between 1963 and 1988, and the second between 2000 and 2004...
(ETCC).
Revival
The cancellation of the FIA Super Production championship in 2002 would mean the resumption of the Superturismo championship, albeit now under Super Production rules and named the Superproduzione. The SP cars were in many ways less advanced than the Super 2000 relatives in the ETCC. Salvatore TavanoSalvatore Tavano
Salvatore Tavano is an Italian auto racing driver.-Career:After starting his racing career in karting, Tavano spent two years in the Italian Formula Three Championship. He finished fourth in 1998 and third in 1999. In 2001 he competed in the European Formula 3000 Championship. He was the Italian...
won the 2003 Superproduzione season in an Alfa Romeo 147
Alfa Romeo 147
The Alfa Romeo 147 is a small family car produced by Italian automaker Alfa Romeo from 2000 to 2010. The 147 was voted European Car of the Year for 2001, beating the Ford Mondeo and the Toyota Prius....
. The championship became an all-147 series in 2004 won by Adriano De Micheli
Adriano de Micheli
Adriano de Micheli is an Italian auto racing driver.-Career:de Micheli competed in the Italian Super Production Championship between 2000 and 2004, winning the championship in 2004 in an Alfa Romeo 147....
. The season saw a very low number of entries with between four and six participants each weekend.
The ETCC became the World Touring Car Championship
World Touring Car Championship
For the video game, known as World Touring Car Championship in Japan, see TOCA World Touring CarsThe FIA World Touring Car Championship is an international Touring Car championship sanctioned by the FIA.-History:...
(WTCC) in 2005. At the same time the Superturismo was truly revived with Super 2000 rules. Alessandro Zanardi would win the first season in a BMW 320i. In 2006 SEAT
SEAT
SEAT, S.A. is a Spanish automobile manufacturer founded on May 9, 1950 by the Instituto Nacional de Industria , a state-owned industrial holding company....
joined the championship as a full works team with two Leóns
SEAT León
The SEAT León is a small family car built by the Spanish car manufacturer, and Volkswagen Group subsidiary SEAT, S.A. since October 1998.The two León generations are, or have been built upon two differing variants of the Volkswagen Group A platform, and they also share many other components with...
driven by Roberto Colciago
Roberto Colciago
Roberto Colciago is a racing driver from Saronno, Italy. He has spent most of his career in touring car racing – first in Super Touring and then in Super 2000 – and currently competes in the World Touring Car Championship. His major successes include two Swedish Touring Car...
and Davide Roda
Davide Roda
Davide Roda is an Italian auto racing driver. His first serious drive came in 2002 when he drove the Italian Alfa 147 Cup. From 2003, he spent the next three years competing in the European Alfa 147 Challenge. In 2006 he drove in the FIA World Touring Car Championship with an independent SEAT Leon...
. Colciago won the title ahead of returning 1997 champion Emanuele Naspetti
Emanuele Naspetti
Emanuele Naspetti is a racing driver from Italy. He participated in six Formula One Grands Prix, debuting on August 30, 1992. He scored no championship points. He was considered for the Forti drive for the 1995 season....
in a BMW 320i.
In 2007 the championship changed its promoter to Peroni Promotion and was renamed ITCC (Italian Touring Car Competition). However, grids were small as several teams moved to the WTCC and the Superstars Series, and the series was merged with the Peroni-run Driver's Trophy midway through 2008.
Champions
| Season | Champion | Team Champion |
|---|---|---|
| 1987 |  Michele Di Gioia (BMW M3BMW M3 The BMW M3 is a high-performance version of the BMW 3 Series, developed by BMW's in-house motorsport division, BMW M. M3 models have been derived from the E30, E36, E46 and E90/E92/E93 3-series, and sold with coupé, sedan and convertible body styles... ) |
none |
| 1988 | Gianfranco Brancatelli Gianfranco Brancatelli Gianfranco Brancatelli is a former racing driver from Italy. His racing career began in 1973, in the Formula Abarth series. In 1975, he advanced to Italian Formula 3 racing... (Alfa Romeo 75 Turbo Alfa Romeo 75 The Alfa Romeo 75, sold in North America as the Milano, was a compact sports saloon / compact executive car produced by the Italian automaker Alfa Romeo between 1985 and 1992... ) |
none |
| 1989 |  Johnny CecottoJohnny Cecotto Alberto "Johnny" Cecotto is a former Grand Prix motorcycle road racer and Formula One driver... (BMW M3 BMW M3 The BMW M3 is a high-performance version of the BMW 3 Series, developed by BMW's in-house motorsport division, BMW M. M3 models have been derived from the E30, E36, E46 and E90/E92/E93 3-series, and sold with coupé, sedan and convertible body styles... ) |
none |
| 1990 | Roberto Ravaglia Roberto Ravaglia Roberto Ravaglia is a former auto racing driver, who currently runs ROAL Motorsport, who operate the BMW Team Italy-Spain operation in the World Touring Car Championship... (BMW M3 BMW M3 The BMW M3 is a high-performance version of the BMW 3 Series, developed by BMW's in-house motorsport division, BMW M. M3 models have been derived from the E30, E36, E46 and E90/E92/E93 3-series, and sold with coupé, sedan and convertible body styles... ) |
none |
| 1991 | Roberto Ravaglia Roberto Ravaglia Roberto Ravaglia is a former auto racing driver, who currently runs ROAL Motorsport, who operate the BMW Team Italy-Spain operation in the World Touring Car Championship... (BMW M3 BMW M3 The BMW M3 is a high-performance version of the BMW 3 Series, developed by BMW's in-house motorsport division, BMW M. M3 models have been derived from the E30, E36, E46 and E90/E92/E93 3-series, and sold with coupé, sedan and convertible body styles... ) |
none |
| 1992 | Nicola Larini Nicola Larini Nicola Larini is a racing driver from Italy. He participated in 75 Formula One Grands Prix, debuting on September 6, 1987. He finished second in the tragic 1994 San Marino Grand Prix on a substitute outing for Ferrari, but only scored points once more in his career... (Alfa Romeo 155 GTA Alfa Romeo 155 The Alfa Romeo 155 is a compact executive car produced under the Italian Alfa Romeo marque between 1992 and 1998.-Design:Built to replace the 75 and based on the parent Fiat Group's Type Three platform, the 155 was somewhat larger in dimension than the 75 but evolved its styling from that of its... ) |
none |
| 1993 | Roberto Ravaglia Roberto Ravaglia Roberto Ravaglia is a former auto racing driver, who currently runs ROAL Motorsport, who operate the BMW Team Italy-Spain operation in the World Touring Car Championship... (BMW 318i BMW E36 The BMW E36 is the third generation of the 3 Series compact executive cars produced by BMW. It was introduced in late 1990 for Europe and in late 1991 for US and Canada. It was the successor to the E30 3 Series and was eventually replaced by the E90 3 Series in 2005, though E36 coupes were still... ) |
none |
| 1994 | Emanuele Pirro Emanuele Pirro Emanuele Pirro is an Italian former Formula One driver and five time Le Mans 24 hour winner.- Biography :... (Audi 80 Quattro Audi 80 The Audi 80 is a compact executive car produced by the German car manufacturer Audi, from 1966 to 1996. It shared its platform with the Volkswagen Passat from 1973 to 1986 and was available as a saloon car/sedan, and an Avant... ) |
none |
| 1995 | Emanuele Pirro Emanuele Pirro Emanuele Pirro is an Italian former Formula One driver and five time Le Mans 24 hour winner.- Biography :... (Audi A4 Quattro Audi A4 The first generation Audi A4 debuted in 1994, with production starting November 1994. It was built on the Volkswagen Group B5 platform, which it shared with the fourth generation Volkswagen Passat . It had a front-mounted longitudinal engine and front-wheel drive... ) |
none |
| 1996 | Rinaldo Capello Rinaldo Capello Rinaldo Capello , also known as Dindo Capello, is an Italian endurance racing driver.Dindo started his racing career in 1976, driving go-karts, but didn't move into single-seaters until 1983, starting in Formula Fiat Abarth. 1990 saw Dindo's first major championship victory, winning the Italian... (Audi A4 Quattro Audi A4 The first generation Audi A4 debuted in 1994, with production starting November 1994. It was built on the Volkswagen Group B5 platform, which it shared with the fourth generation Volkswagen Passat . It had a front-mounted longitudinal engine and front-wheel drive... ) |
none |
| 1997 | Emanuele Naspetti Emanuele Naspetti Emanuele Naspetti is a racing driver from Italy. He participated in six Formula One Grands Prix, debuting on August 30, 1992. He scored no championship points. He was considered for the Forti drive for the 1995 season.... (BMW 320i BMW E36 The BMW E36 is the third generation of the 3 Series compact executive cars produced by BMW. It was introduced in late 1990 for Europe and in late 1991 for US and Canada. It was the successor to the E30 3 Series and was eventually replaced by the E90 3 Series in 2005, though E36 coupes were still... ) |
none |
| 1998 | Fabrizio Giovanardi Fabrizio Giovanardi Fabrizio Giovanardi is an Italian racing driver. During his career he has won eight touring car titles, including European and British crowns... (Alfa Romeo 156 Alfa Romeo 156 The Alfa Romeo 156 is a compact executive car introduced by Italian automaker Alfa Romeo at the 1997 Frankfurt Motor Show as the replacement for the Alfa Romeo 155... ) |
none |
| 1999 | Fabrizio Giovanardi Fabrizio Giovanardi Fabrizio Giovanardi is an Italian racing driver. During his career he has won eight touring car titles, including European and British crowns... (Alfa Romeo 156 Alfa Romeo 156 The Alfa Romeo 156 is a compact executive car introduced by Italian automaker Alfa Romeo at the 1997 Frankfurt Motor Show as the replacement for the Alfa Romeo 155... ) |
none |
| 2000- 2002 |
NOT HELD | |
| 2003 | Salvatore Tavano Salvatore Tavano Salvatore Tavano is an Italian auto racing driver.-Career:After starting his racing career in karting, Tavano spent two years in the Italian Formula Three Championship. He finished fourth in 1998 and third in 1999. In 2001 he competed in the European Formula 3000 Championship. He was the Italian... (Alfa Romeo 147 Alfa Romeo 147 The Alfa Romeo 147 is a small family car produced by Italian automaker Alfa Romeo from 2000 to 2010. The 147 was voted European Car of the Year for 2001, beating the Ford Mondeo and the Toyota Prius.... ) |
none |
| 2004 | Adriano de Micheli Adriano de Micheli Adriano de Micheli is an Italian auto racing driver.-Career:de Micheli competed in the Italian Super Production Championship between 2000 and 2004, winning the championship in 2004 in an Alfa Romeo 147.... (Alfa Romeo 147 Alfa Romeo 147 The Alfa Romeo 147 is a small family car produced by Italian automaker Alfa Romeo from 2000 to 2010. The 147 was voted European Car of the Year for 2001, beating the Ford Mondeo and the Toyota Prius.... ) |
none |
| 2005 | Alessandro Zanardi (BMW 320i BMW E46 The BMW E46 is the fourth generation of the 3 Series compact executive cars produced by BMW, produced from 1998 when it succeeded the BMW E36 until it was replaced by the BMW E90 in 2005.... ) |
ROAL Motorsport ROAL Motorsport ROAL Motorsport is an Italian auto racing team, which operated the BMW Team Italy-Spain team in the World Touring Car Championship... |
| 2006 | Roberto Colciago Roberto Colciago Roberto Colciago is a racing driver from Saronno, Italy. He has spent most of his career in touring car racing – first in Super Touring and then in Super 2000 – and currently competes in the World Touring Car Championship. His major successes include two Swedish Touring Car... (SEAT León SEAT León The SEAT León is a small family car built by the Spanish car manufacturer, and Volkswagen Group subsidiary SEAT, S.A. since October 1998.The two León generations are, or have been built upon two differing variants of the Volkswagen Group A platform, and they also share many other components with... ) |
SEAT Sport Italia |
| 2007 | Cesare Cremonesi (BMW 320i BMW E46 The BMW E46 is the fourth generation of the 3 Series compact executive cars produced by BMW, produced from 1998 when it succeeded the BMW E36 until it was replaced by the BMW E90 in 2005.... ) |
Arsenio Corse |
| 2008 | Massimo Arduini Massimo Arduini Massimo Arduini is an Italian auto racing driver. He currently competes in the Italian Touring Car Championship, and was champion in 2008 in a Honda Accord for Team Mercury GPS. Between 1998 and 2000 he competed the Italian Rally Championship. In 2001 he started racing in various Touring Car races... (Honda Accord Honda Accord The Honda Accord is a series of compact, mid-size and full-size automobiles manufactured by Honda since 1976, and sold in a majority of automotive markets throughout the world.... ) |
Team Mercury GPS |